Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported yesterday that the Rockies have placed Brad Hawpe on waivers and now Troy Renck of the Denver Postwrites that his “days in Denver may be numbered.”
Just a few weeks ago the Rockies were said to be telling teams that they couldn’t trade Hawpe, but now that they’re nine games out in the NL West and five games back in the Wild Card race that stance has apparently changed. According to Renck “the Rockies want to move Hawpe, who is owed about $2.2 million for the remainder of this season, so if he’s claimed they probably would try to work out a trade or simply let him go.”
His contract also has a $10 million team option or $500,000 buyout for 2011, so any team claiming Hawpe would risk being stuck with a $2.7 million bill. That seemingly makes it likely that he’ll pass through waivers unclaimed, which would allow the Rockies to shop him freely to any of the other 29 teams.
Hawpe has never been a good defensive corner outfielder and has struggled at the plate this season, hitting .252/.341/.430 with seven homers in 87 games, but he’s still relatively young at 31 and posted an OPS above .875 in each of the previous four seasons. And while Coors Field has certainly helped boost those numbers, he’s a career .274/.369/.470 hitter with an average of 24 homers per 550 at-bats on the road. If his nagging rib injury isn’t serious, he’d be a worthwhile stretch-run pickup for some team.

Blash, 28, was acquired by the Yankees from the Padres back in December in the Chase Headley trade. In trading Blash to the Angels, the Yankees were able to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Brandon Drury, the infielder they acquired as part of a three-team trade with the Diamondbacks and Rays on Tuesday.

Over parts of two seasons in the majors, Blash has hit an underwhelming .200/.323/.336 in 279 plate appearances. He will try to play his way into a bench role for the Angels this spring.